Back in 2014, there were an estimated 45 million cyclists all across the United States. That number has likely increased in the past few years, as more and more people look to bicycles for commutes or leisure purposes.
But, the reality of biking is that you are always at risk of injury. Bicycle collisions, much like car crashes, can happen at any time without warning.
As a result, many people who cycle regularly look to bicycle insurance for protection. But, does bicycle insurance actually protect you if you’re in a bicycle crash?
We’re going to go into some of the key cover features of insurance policies for cyclists. Then, we’re going to answer the question of just how far bicycle coverage goes for those in a crash.
What Should You Do If You’ve Been in a Bicycle Collision?
Bicycle collisions can be serious accidents. Because of this fact, before we answer the question of insurance, we need to outline what you should do if you’ve been a victim of bicycle collisions.
The first thing you should do if you’ve experienced a crash is to protect yourself before your bike. You should always prioritize your own body over any belongings in a serious incident like a fire or a collision.
If you’ve crashed on a busy road, for instance, you need to get yourself out of the way of further harm. Following this, you should try to communicate with the person you’ve collided with.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. But if it is, this can help you when it comes to compensation later on.
You should always take their contact details, as well as any further personal information like their vehicle registration plate.
If your injuries appear to be substantial, you should try and take yourself to see a doctor. Sometimes people risk not visiting the doctor and end up with more substantial injuries as a result.
Finally, you should contact a reputable accident lawyer. Accident lawyers are specialists in supporting people who have been in accidents that weren’t their fault.
Search for an accident lawyer near me in a reputable search engine, and you should be able to find someone who can support your case.
What is Bicycle Insurance and What Does it Usually Cover?
Bicycle insurance is a specific form of insurance that can be taken out by cyclists. Similar to car insurance, or home insurance, it’s designed to make sure you’re protected when you’re out on your bike.
It’s usually worth looking into bicycle insurance if you use your bicycle regularly. As a general rule, if you’re using your bike at least once per week, you’ll likely benefit from investing in insurance.
There are a few notable features of bicycle insurance that are usually included in most packages. However, it is worth noting that the extent of your coverage will depend on the insurance provider you choose to go with.
Bike insurance will usually cover you when it comes to damage to your bike. This can help you obtain compensation for any faults that have occurred to your bike.
In a collision, for instance, your handles might twist out of shape, or your bike’s frame could buckle. These are all problems that cost time and money to properly repair. With insurance, this repair should usually be covered by your provider.
Bicycle insurance can also cover the theft of a bike in certain circumstances. That means that if your bike is stolen, from your home or while you’re on the road, you’ll be able to make a claim.
Your provider should be able to provide you with the value of your bicycle, or at least a percentage of this value at the time of the theft.
Some insurance also covers spare bike parts and roadside assistance. But how does bike insurance help when it comes to collisions?
Does Bicycle Insurance Cover You If You’ve Been in a Bicycle Collision?
As in the above section, there is no guarantee that your particular insurance will cover every aspect of your bike. This will depend on the provider you choose to go with, as well as other factors like how much your insurance costs.
But often, having bike insurance is considerably better than not having it.
Insurance, as mentioned above, will usually cover your bike if it’s been damaged in a collision. This can help reduce the cost of repairing your bicycle, which is vital for people who use their bikes often.
Some bicycle insurance providers will cover you for personal injuries sustained during a cycling crash. This means that you will be able to claim your healthcare costs back from your insurance provider.
However, not all insurance providers will offer this perk. That means you will have to check with your individual provider and may have to pay a heightened fee to guarantee this level of support.
You’ll also need to provide evidence that your injuries were actually sustained in a bicycle collision. This is why it’s important to obtain contact details of anyone you’ve crashed into, and to document the incident with photographs.
As long as you can prove how your injuries occurred, and injuries are included in your insurance, you should be covered.
It’s vital to make sure you properly research an insurance provider before signing up with them. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee that your bicycle insurance will cover you if you’ve been in a collision.
Around 50,000 bicycle crashes are reported every year in the US, with thousands more going unreported. To make sure you’re protected, get the right insurance and speak to an accidents lawyer after an incident.
Where Can I Find Out More About Bicycle Insurance?
You should now know what to do if you’ve been in a bike collision. You should also know what bicycle insurance typically involves, and what to bear in mind when choosing a provider.
If you’d like to find out more about insurance policies or legal matters, make sure to browse through some of the previous posts on our website.
